Welcome to the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, where we will review the Q4 2025 Space IQ Report: our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy.

For the last decade, the space economy has been defined by promise. In the next decade, it will be defined by utility.

We close the books on 2025 tracking $17.0 billion invested across 135 rounds in Q4 alone, bringing the year to a record $55.3 billion. The data is unequivocal: The skepticism phase is over. We are no longer just building the rails—we're running the trains.

What This Quarter Reveals:

The latest Space IQ shows 2025 closing as a top-three investment year, with capital flowing decisively toward companies solving hard problems and defense-driven infrastructure.

Key insights:

• Q4 delivered $17.0 billion across 135 rounds, with high-conviction capital replacing easy money as markets rejected plays without robust unit economics
• Heavy-lift competition arrived as Blue Origin's New Glenn recovery ended the single-provider bottleneck; Europe's Project Bromo consolidation signaled the end of cost-plus
• Applications hit $30.2 billion driven by $24.7 billion in GEOINT, as space met AI at scale and "world models" became the new frontier
• Strategic competition established a permanent floor for investment, with maneuverability becoming the most valuable currency in orbit under Golden Dome

This report offers a closer look at how the market is evolving from access to integration—and what it means for the future of the Space Economy.

Welcome to the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, where we will review the Q2 2025 Space IQ review, our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. Space Capital's Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian are going to walk through the results published in our Q2 2025 Space Investment Quarterly.

• Capital is flowing again – Q2 funding jumped to $7.8B across 113 rounds, despite the VIX flirting with pandemic‑era highs.
• Infrastructure roars back – Hardware wins the quarter with $3.2B raised, a five‑quarter high driven by satellite manufacturing and in‑space logistics.
• Defense is rewriting the map – Record $3.8B into GEOINT applications shows governments are voting with their wallets while budget cuts loom elsewhere.
• IPO window creaks open – Early pops look great on day one; history says most will retrace. We explain who could beat the odds and why.

The Q2 2025 Space IQ distills the noise into clear takeaways and actionable data for investors, operators, and policymakers.

• Download the Q2 2025 Space Investment Quarterly
• Buy The Space Economy wherever you buy books
• Watch the Space IQ playlist on YouTube

Chad Anderson, Managing Partner of Space Capital dives into the highlights of Q1 2025 and reflect on a transformative quarter for the space economy. From record investments and the rise of AI-powered geospatial intelligence, we explore the trends shaping the future of the space economy.

Resources:

• Space IQ report: https://www.spacecapital.com/space-iq
• Learn more about the space economy: https://www.spacecapital.com/space-economy-book

Welcome to the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, where we will review the Q4 2024 Space IQ review, our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. Space Capital's Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian are going to walk through the results published in our Q4 2024 Space Investment Quarterly, explore current market dynamics, and deep dive into specific themes with industry leaders in Satellite communications and Geospatial intelligence.

• Download the Q4 2024 Space Investment Quarterly
• Buy The Space Economy wherever you buy books
• Watch the Space IQ playlist on YouTube
• With over 150 LPs, portfolio CEOs, and industry leaders in attendance, the 2024 Space Capital Summit tackled important topics like the role of AI in leveraging geospatial data and the coming impact of SpaceX's Starship. Here are links to replay the public Summit panels.

Welcome to the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, where we will review the Q3 2024 Space IQ review, our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. Space Capital's Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian are going to walk through the results published in our Q3 2024 Space Investment Quarterly, explore current market dynamics, and deep dive into specific themes with industry leaders in Satellite communications and Geospatial intelligence.

• Download the Q3 2024 Space Investment Quarterly
• Buy The Space Economy wherever you buy books
• Watch the Space IQ playlist on YouTube
• With over 150 LPs, portfolio CEOs, and industry leaders in attendance, the 2024 Space Capital Summit tackled important topics like the role of AI in leveraging geospatial data and the coming impact of SpaceX's Starship. Here are links to replay the public Summit panels.
• Unlock the future of space technology with "The Race for Space Superiority." This report explores the critical role of innovation and investment in maintaining national security and driving economic growth. Download now

In this episode of The Space Capital Podcast, host Chad Anderson delves into the burgeoning space economy with Nikolai Khlystov, lead for space at the World Economic Forum. Together, they explore the findings of a groundbreaking report that projects the space economy to reach a staggering $1.8 trillion by 2035. Nikolai shares insights on how space technologies are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, transforming industries far beyond traditional aerospace, and contributing to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges. From ride-hailing apps to disaster response, this conversation illuminates the far-reaching impact of space-based technologies and their potential to reshape our global economic landscape.

Show Notes:

• Follow Nikolai Khlystov on LinkedIn.
• World Economic Forum Report: Space: The $1.8 Trillion Opportunity for Global Economic Growth
• Mckinsey Report: Space: The $1.8 trillion opportunity for global economic growth
• Buy The Space Economy wherever you buy books.
• With over 150 LPs, portfolio CEOs, and industry leaders in attendance, the 2024 Space Capital Summit tackled important topics like the role of AI in leveraging geospatial data and the coming impact of SpaceX's Starship. Here are links to replay the public Summit panels.
• Unlock the future of space technology with "The Race for Space Superiority." This report explores the critical role of innovation and investment in maintaining national security and driving economic growth. Download now.

In the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, the team at Space Capital, including our former intern Tycho Bogdanowitsch, discusses the significant impact of SpaceX's Starship on the space economy, emphasizing its unprecedented capabilities and the challenges it presents. The conversation highlights how Starship's ability to launch massive payloads could revolutionize space exploration and infrastructure, while also posing regulatory, technical, and market challenges that need to be addressed. The episode underscores the importance of forward-thinking strategies and innovation in harnessing the full potential of this groundbreaking technology.

Show Notes

• Check out and download The Next Giant Leap to learn more!

• Buy The Space Economy wherever you buy books to learn more!

• With over 150 LPs, portfolio CEOs, and industry leaders in attendance, the 2024 Space Capital Summit tackled important topics like the role of AI in leveraging geospatial data and the coming impact of SpaceX's Starship. Here are links to replay the public Summit panels.

• Unlock the future of space technology with "The Race for Space Superiority." This report explores the critical role of innovation and investment in maintaining national security and driving economic growth. Download now.

Welcome to the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, where we will review the Q2 2024 Space IQ review, our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. Space Capital Partners, Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian are going to walk through the results published in our Q2 2024 Space Investment Quarterly, explore current market dynamics, and deep dive into specific themes with industry leaders in Satellite communications and Geospatial intelligence.

Show Notes

• Download the Q1 2024 Space Investment Quarterly

• Watch the Space IQ playlist on YouTube

• With over 150 LPs, portfolio CEOs, and industry leaders in attendance, the 2024 Space Capital Summit tackled important topics like the role of AI in leveraging geospatial data and the coming impact of SpaceX's Starship. Here are links to replay the public Summit panels.
• Unlock the future of space technology with "The Race for Space Superiority." This report explores the critical role of innovation and investment in maintaining national security and driving economic growth. Download now!

Welcome to the newest episode of the Space Capital Podcast, where we will review the Q1 2024 Space IQ review, our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. Space Capital Partners, Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian are going to walk through the results published in our Q1 2024 Space Investment Quarterly, explore current market dynamics, and deep dive into specific themes with industry leaders in Satellite communications and Geospatial intelligence.

Show Notes

• Download the Q1 2024 Space Investment Quarterly

• Watch the Space IQ playlist on YouTube

In the newest episode of the second season of the Space Capital Podcast and this is the Q4 2023 Space IQ review, our quarterly analysis of startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. Space Capital Partners, Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian are going to walk through the results published in our Q4 2023 Space Investment Quarterly, explore current market dynamics, and deep dive into specific themes with industry leaders in Satellite communications and Geospatial intelligence.

Show Notes

• Download the Q4 2023 Space Investment Quarterly

• Watch the Space IQ playlist on YouTube

• Buy The Space Economy wherever you buy books

Chad Anderson, Founder and Managing Partner at Space Capital, has a discussion with Siamak Hesar and Araz Feyzi, co-founders of Kayhan Space. Kayhan Space specializes in automation for satellite operations and space flight safety.